[lindemans]

To put you more at ease:
The level reading (both on dashboard as well as the dipstick) is totally meaningless at rpm's above idle.

At warm idle the equilibrium regarding oil in tank / oil in machine is the only reliable situation to measure whether the right amount of oil is in it.

I keep it half an inch under the max. reading of the dipstick.
This will keep the meter all the way up at warm idle (while driving the meter does indeed go all the way down).